The partnership will facilitate Vietnam's implementation of the Integrated National Operational Programme for Avian and Human Influenza 2006-2010 (OPI), which is also called Green Book.

With an estimated budget of US$250 million, the Green Book aims to progressively control and eradicate avian influenza from poultry in Vietnam, minimise the incidence and mortality rate of human avian influenza infections, reduce the risk of a human influenza pandemic, and take necessary steps to reduce the impact of a pandemic, if it occurs.

The Vietnamese Government is expected to finance up to half of the total estimated cost for the Green Book. So far, donors have committed more than US$60 million.

Addressing the meeting, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat stressed that Vietnam cannot combat avian influenza alone and needs close coordination with the international community by exchanging information and joining hands with health services in the region and worldwide.

UN Resident Coordinator John Hendra said Vietnam has made impressive achievements in controlling the threat of avian influenza, and in preparing for the eventuality of a human influenza pandemic. He asserted the UN commitment to the best support for Vietnam.

According to the National Steering Committee, no new outbreaks in poultry have been reported in the past 10 months and no H5N1 type A influenza cases have been discovered in humans over the past 11 months in Vietnam.